As summer winds down, it is hard to believe how quickly the season has flown by. Fall feels like a fresh start, with back-to-school routines beginning and families settling into their schedules; our community is finding its rhythm again. The change in seasons is always a reminder to pause, reflect, and think about what is ahead. There is much to look forward to over the coming months, from community events and local projects to initiatives that will continue to make our neighbourhood a great place to live. Exciting things are coming in the months ahead, including a major transit milestone, but more on that shortly in this newsletter.
Before I turn to community updates, I wanted to share my personal reflections on recent incidents of hate that have taken place in our city, including an attack on an elderly Jewish woman at College Square, and the vandalism of the Stittsville Muslim Association. These incidents may be the most recent, but Ottawa Police Service data clearly shows that acts of hate-based violence have risen in our city, many of which do not make the headlines, but are just as impactful to the victims, their families and their communities.
These acts are abhorrent, they are disgusting, and they do not reflect who we are as a city.
As a community, our greatest strength is our acceptance of differing opinions, backgrounds, religions and beliefs. We are a strong, diverse, incredible community and I have every belief that together we will stand together against acts of hate. This is never the way I want to start a newsletter, but I felt it was important to share my thoughts. I am proud to get to represent such a diverse community in such a diverse city.
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